Greta and Luna helped braid each other's hair;Greta was long done with Luna's hair and had adorned it with a daffodil whilst Luna struggled to braid Greta's incredulously long red hair. Greta's hair was a tad too long as it fell across her bottom and was quite an addition to her already stunning beauty. They were both in the room assigned to the queen's personal maids and Tiana,their fellow maid servant slept soundly on her own bed.
"Greta,don't you think you should take the queen's suggestion and cut your hair?It's a bit too long for braiding and my hands are starting to hurt"Luna complained.
"I'm not cutting my hair because of that grouchy woman who's rude and arrogant !I simply refuse to besmirch the last remainder I have of my poor twin brother,George "Greta refuted fiercely.
George was Greta's twin brother and they both had the same ridiculously long red hair such that their mother always gave George a haircut at least twice in a week because of the speed at which it grew.Greta hadn't been separated from her brother, hadn't seen him in twelve years. She could neither leave the four walls of the palace nor send a message across to her poor mother and brother .
"You're right Greta, I am quite sorry I suggested it,it was very unkind of me"Luna apologized.
"Nay,you only suggested it because of that snobbish queen and your hands hurting " Greta remarked,smirking.
Giggling softly,Luna was about to say something when a very pretty girl of about nineteen walked into their chambers,unannounced.
Beaming brightly,Greta squealed "Greetings,Princess!"
Smiling softly,Princess Sierra settled down on the only armchair and asked excitedly "Who's ready for some palace gossip?"
Luna leaned in interestedly,saying "Do tell, I cannot wait for all the juicy tales you have for us!"
Princess Sierra was very pretty, with a lean bodice and a face to die for; full luscious red lips,deep blue eyes just like her brother's ,perfectly arched eyebrows and a button nose.The Princess was a childhood friend of Luna and Greta,and had been close to them for years.She would come and sit and talk with them and gave them gifts and special treats which the queen refused them from having such as red wine and apples.
She had brought along a basket of red apples and the girls dug in as she regaled them in tales of all the palace happenings.
" That was so funny Princess!" Luna stated, laughing hysterically.
"Ah but alas it was!Those nobles and their pretentious ways !" Sierra said, irked by the fact that the nobles in the kingdom always had to show such grand pomposity.
"I loved how you to told Gwen off!And wearing one of her mother's priced jewels just to show off was really off the radar if I may " Greta remarked,chuckling with incredulity.
Gwen was a daughter of one of the few dukes in the kingdom and had always tried to be in the Princess' good graces.It was a known fact that her father, Duke Macbeth wanted his daughter to be the queen as most people thought Queen Geraldine infertile,but only those in that palace could see the King's sheer apathy to his wife's beauty and charms.
The girls talked some more before the Princess retired to her chambers for the night.
Meanwhile, the King sat at the music room of the palace looking at the violin his mother so dearly loved to play. Mandrake's mother, Queen Sienna was one of the best violin players he had come across; every night she would play for his father, a gentle smile on her lips as she lost herself to her music.Now that she was gone, he still made sure it was in good condition and that he could look at it and think if he was ever bothered. His mother, had been his shoulder to
cry on.
Most times, Mandrake felt overwhelmed; he had been king for five years and still felt the remarkable weight on his shoulders anytime he put on his crown and sat before the council. The council consisted of dukes and lords; men who his father had worked it and trusted; so admirably so and others not quite. He wasn't also blind to see that most of them felt he was unfit to rule and he worked hard day and night to prove them wrong. He was fair to his subjects notwithstanding their social standing, and that earned him some enemies.
After hours of sitting and thinking, Mandrake was leaving the room when he saw a shadowed figure approaching the music room.Perplexed because he was the only one who ever visited the room since his mother died, he hid from sight and watched a woman in a dark veil enter the room with attempted stealth. Intrigued,he came out of hiding and leaned on the door to listen.
Alas, he removed his ear from the doorframe almost quickly.The woman was apparently playing the violin; his mother's violin with such skill that the melody emanating from the room reminded him of his mother.Fascinated,he let himself into the room without much thought.The veiled lady was backed from the door playing away with elegance,oblivious to the King's scrutiny.
"Who are you? " Mandrake asked finally finding his voice.
Visibly shocked, the veiled woman turned and locked her eyes with the king's .Mandrake beside himself gasped; the woman's eyes were the deepest shade of light brown that he had ever seen. Her eyes reminded of him of a grizzly bear's, fierce with a tinge of softness.She obviously had very long red hair which he deduced from her veil and had an hour glass shape.Safe to say, without seeing her full features; this woman was extraordinarily beautiful.
"My King....I...forgive me, I will not repeat this trespass " the veiled woman said,putting the violin back in it's place.
"Your name I ask?" Mandrake inquired truly intrigued.
"I...my name...Georgia " the veiled woman answered with hesitation, keeping her head lowered.
"And are you one of the palace's aides?" Mandrake asked,wanting to know about this mystery woman.
"Yes, Your Majesty...but I'm deeply sorry,I just love playing the violin, I really did not mean any disrespect, I just..."
"You play wonderfully well" Mandrake complimented.
"just...Your....Your Majesty?Why...thank you,Your Grace " the veiled woman replied,truly flabbergasted.
"You're most welcome" Mandrake said, with a small smile.
Quickly he adjusted his facial features; he had never smiled at anyone other than his sister who bore who striking resemblance to their mother since she died.
'Who is this woman?Why has she intrigued me so much?' he thought.
Coughing to alert his attention,the veiled woman slowly collected herself and started walking towards the door while saying with a forced smile " It has been pleasant, Your Majesty, I really do have to leave so..."
"Wait!" Mandrake called out beside himself in desperation.
He realized with a shocking desperation that he wanted to know about this veiled woman.
" Yes,Your Majesty?"the veiled woman asked in confusion.
"I would love to see you again....the usage of this violin has been dormant for a while and I'm yet to find someone who plays as well as you do....please, I'd like to make your acquaintance tomorrow night "Mandrake requested, with a note of need in his voice he did not recognize.
"I...I'm afraid that's not possible Your Majesty,forgive my impudence "the veiled woman refuted, bolting out of the room as fast as she could.
Not knowing why,Mandrake smiled even broader; none of his aides had ever dared refuse him and today this veiled woman,Georgia had the knack to refuse undoubtedly opportunity to spend time with the King.He made a self vow to meet with this woman again who had finally done the unthinkable ;wriggle her away into his head.
Meanwhile as soon as she was safely back in her room,Greta removed the veil while silently cursing herself for getting caught and even so,by the King.She had waited for Tiana and Luna to fall asleep and had snuck out to play the violin; a talent she had gotten from her brother who was quite the instrumentalist and at such a young age.She knew the music room had been quiet since the late queen died and was hoping to play peaceably and remember her twin brother whom she missed dearly.She had not known the King would arrive there and if she had,she would've never gone there in the first place.
Feeling a bit flustered, she realized she wanted to know Mandrake.She wanted to know who Mandrake was besides being a King and if the compassionate handsome man had hidden demons of his own.
Slapping her forehead at the mere foolishness of her thoughts,she settled down on her bed;drifting off to sleep and wishing halfheartedly that the King not recognize her one of these days.